Teacher and former veteran honored for his efforts in and out of the classroom

May 2, 2011

Produced by Eight Forty-Eight

On May 4, Aaron Rucker will be the first recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.

A correction has been made to this story.

On Tuesday, Aaron Rucker will be honored for his contributions in two very different worlds — the Army and in the classroom. The retired Major is not only the May 2011 Veteran of the Month, he’s the first ever recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education.

Rucker was medically retired from the Army after being injured in Afghanistan. These days, he could be seen in the hallways of Marshall Metro High School on Chicago’s West Side, where he chairs the school’s special education department. He joined Eight Forty-Eight to talk more about his journey.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the day Aaron Rucker will receive the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education. He'll be receiving the award on Tuesday.